Punjab Newsline | Amritsar
Victims preparing to appear before Sri Akal Takht Sahib in connection with a rape case involving former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Amarjit Singh Chawla have allegedly received threats, former Akali leader Bibi Roop Kaur Sandhu claimed in a video released on Friday.
Sandhu has urged Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) and the task force of Sri Akal Takht Sahib to make adequate security arrangements for the women, alleging that pressure was also exerted on her to prevent her from accompanying them to the Sikh temporal seat.
Sandhu, who was expelled from the Shiromani Akali Dal, said she had announced that she would accompany the victims to Sri Akal Takht Sahib to present their complaints and evidence before the Jathedar. She claimed that several women had approached her with allegations of exploitation involving Akali leaders.
She said the women wanted to meet the Jathedar personally, submit their evidence and present their accounts before the Sikh community. Sandhu said her objective was to ensure justice for the victims and punishment for those found guilty.
Warning that the women must be provided a safe environment to speak freely, she said that if adequate security was not ensured, she would make the evidence public through social media.
The controversy centres on allegations of rape and sending obscene messages against Amarjit Singh Chawla, a former SGPC member, and Giani Malkit Singh, an additional head granthi associated with Akal Takht Sahib.
The complaint was filed by a Sikh woman residing in Bahrain. According to her allegations, she returned to India in November 2025 and was provided accommodation by the SGPC.
The woman alleged that Chawla raped her multiple times between March and May 2026 at sarais in Sri Anandpur Sahib and Amritsar. She further alleged that he threatened to kill her if she disclosed the incidents to anyone.
An FIR was registered at Anandpur Sahib police station on August 21, 2026.
The woman also alleged that Giani Malkit Singh and Mohan Singh, a driver associated with Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, sent her obscene and objectionable messages.
She claimed that she had repeatedly approached the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib and the SGPC president with her complaint and supporting evidence, seeking justice. Subsequently, she appeared on a Facebook Live session alongside Sandhu to publicly share her allegations.
The allegations also triggered action at the religious level. On September 20, 2026, the five Sikh high priests, known as the Panj Singh Sahibaan, reportedly took a strict stance, treating the matter as a violation of Sikh religious conduct and discipline.
Chawla and Giani Malkit Singh were expelled from the Khalsa Panth, according to the account of the decision.
Sandhu has now called for security arrangements to enable the women to appear before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and submit their evidence. The allegations remain subject to the legal process, and the claims of the individuals involved should be assessed in accordance with the law.
